We are 2 year 11 students who attend the City of Peterborough Academy Special School. This is a school for children with Autism. We are trying to make our nature area into a new learning space for our fellow students.

When we first saw the area we had big plans for what we could do and we were determined to make it happen. We started by clearing some of the area so we could see how big and open it was. Soon after we thought it would be a good idea to invite 'Frog Life' into school to help us improve and develop the area. They helped us learn about the animals that live there and what could happen if we disturb there territory. We are working on making the area accessible for all students and staff so it will be a safe working space. In the near future we would like to place some benches in the area so children could come down and sit and learn about the wildlife or just to have an alone open space to complete other tasks at hand. We still want to keep this as a nature area, we still want animals to come and visit or make there home in are area.

The nature area is protected due to the Grate Crested Newts that live in the two ponds. We have also caught foxes, cats and squirrels on our nature camera that we bought to catch animals. We are trying to raise funds to have the 2 overgrown ponds cleared professionally, to purchase 2 benches, a Tool Shed and a wood chip path to make the area more accessible. So far to raise funds we have hosted a Parents vs Teachers football match and a coffee morning where we made cakes and hot drinks and invited Mugly the worlds ugliest dog. However, we are still in need of funds.

The nature area is very important to our school so students have a calm outside area where they can go, sit and relax by listening to the birds and feeling the wind blowing across there face. A multi-sensory are to chill out.